Vespa Scooters have been manufactured since the end of world war two by

the Italian Motorcycle giant

Piaggio. The first Vespa scooter was developed as a single model in 1946

by the Piaggio Company of Pontedera, Italy

and has broadened over the years into a wide range of scooter models.

Vespa Scooter have also retained a lot of the original features from

their earliest designs in particular the highly distinctive and

instantly recognisable paint work and pressed steel cowling which

completely covers the rear mounted engine. They have also retained their

flat plate floorboard and large and distinctive front steel fairing

although modern vespa scooter models are made from a variety of

composite materials the overall aesthetics have remained fairly true to

the early designs of the Piaggio motorcycle company.

Vespa Scooters soon gained prominence in Italy where they became a cheap

and economical form of transport for the post war masses and as with all

things Italian a sense of style.

Increased interest and growing orders from abroad helped to forge the

success of Vespa Scooters and by the turn of the 1950s Vespa were the

first and most successful global Scooter manufacturer and seller.

Vespa Scooters along with their Italian Rivals Lambretta Scooters have

become Synonymous with the Swinging sixties

of Great Britain where they were the chosen form of transport for the

style conscious Mod movement. Vespa have retained a similar kudos to the

present day as they are still considered among many scooter lovers as

the most stylish of scooters.

Piaggio the original maker of Vespa's was originally a fighter plain

manufacturer for the Italian Military. And it was shortly after the War

when Enrico Piaggio decided to turn the company he inherited from his

father Rinaldo Piaggio into a motorcycle manufacturer. Vespa scooters

quickly caught on in war torn and bankrupt Italy with the common man as

they offered a cheap and affordable form of transport in a country just

beginning to recover from the War.

Piaggios inspiration for the Vespa design was drawn from the US Cushman

Scooter which had appeared in Italy towards the end of WWII courtesy of

the US Military. The original designer of the Vespa Scooter was Piaggios

Engineer Corradino D'Ascanio.

D'Ascanio was never a fan of conventional Motorcycles and decided to

create the vespa with Handlebar Gear changes and on a Spar shaped frame

with small wheels and an engine mounted at the back of the cycle and a

front protector to allow the rider greater comfort. The seating

configuration was designed with all users in mind including women where

it would still be possible due to the design of the scooter fro a woman

to where a dress. It was also desired to include a glove box for storage

above the petrol tank and below the seat, further aiding riders in their

comfort and allowing the carrying of additional luggage.

The name Vespa was derived from Latin and Modern Italian with the

literal translation to English meaning Wasp, the name having been

conceived from the particular hi pitched wine of the original vespa two

stroke engines. Original Vespa's were also made with a sidecar attached

for carrying of an extra passenger.

Vespa largest sales market is still its native Italy with Britain a

close second and a now resurgent US market where it was re introduced

after and absence of some years in 2001. Vespa's are also popular in the

Far east and India where the are licensed to and produced by the Bajaj

motorcycle company.

If you're the proud owner of a Vespa Scooter you will want to ensure

full protection for your motorcycle and with that in mind it is worth

comparing prices for Vespa Scooter Insurance Deals online. There are now

a number of online Scooter insurers and a growing number of specialist

motorcycle insurance comparison sites, where you should quickly be able

to find the best current deals for